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Monthly Archives: September 2010

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So, yesterday Mrs. E of Apartment 34 announced who the lucky winner of the Jo Handbag Niko handbag was…and it was me! I cannot tell you how excited I was to read that and still am. I have been on the hunt for the perfect purse for quite some time now, especially since my favorite was beginning to fall apart on me (guess that is bound to happen when you throw it every where and have had it for a year and a half…right?!). I started looking at Jo Handbags and fell in love with them – I love the simplistic chicness to them, but still being unique at the same time. I love that the Niko is primarily gray, which is the color I have been crushing on as of late. I love that it can be my go to bag and hold everything, or I can take some stuff out and fold it over for a clutch to go out at night – seriously the purse was made for women like me. And now, I get to have it free of charge – talk about a wonderful early birthday present (2 weeks from yesterday…25 here we come…quarter of a century, big deal?! err still deciding, either way I will embrace and hope it is the best year yet)!

Niko folded over as a clutch

Niko even comes with a strap for when you need to be hands free

I am so excited to get this bag in my hands – and don’t you worry your pretty little faces I will get some pics up of me putting it to good use! I wonder if I will have the same luck with the Tenaciously Yours, giveaway this week?! I don’t want to press my luck, but it would be so fun to have a new wallet to go in my new purse, don’t you think? Y’all should head over and check it out – I know Kat is still taking entries up until 5pm on Wednesday, September 29th…so what are you waiting for?! Go see how lucky you are this week, and maybe you will get to boast about your winnings…

…oh and a few more books, too – why not?! Do you ever try to read multiple books at once? I do. I think I may even have a little bit of a problem because it is getting hard to actually finish the books since I have so many started. Thankfully Book Club holds me accountable to finishing at least one book a month, but then I always start another. This month we read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (well confession: I read part of it…but got caught up to speed by the ladies…). This book has a lot of heavy themes, naturally as it is set in Nazi Germany. The one that hit me the most was the sense of loneliness because a lack of being able to fully be known by others and not being able to fully explain your full emotions to others. I think we all can relate to that theme, at least at points in our lives. It is a good book, easy to read, written from an interesting perspective (Death, yes death), and gets your thoughts provoked – which is my favorite type of book. Plus, it made for great discussion tonight over our World War II foods. We even got to have Mads join us via Skype 🙂

The cover

So I mentioned reading a lot of books at once. Here are the others I am currently enjoying:

1984 by George Orwell (October Book Club book)

The Everlasting Righteousness by Horatius Bonar

The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard

Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell (author of SATC)

Gospel in Life by Timothy Keller

And then there are always a few magazines: Vogue (finishing up the September issue – I like to spread it out over the whole month and read it cover to cover), Midwest Living, and Rolling Stone – The Beatles 100 Greatest Songs (as previously mentioned, another must read cover to cover)

So, needless to say I am keeping myself busy with reading – but it helps me fight for some relaxing alone time. Are you reading any good books? We always like suggestions for book club! Or do you have something else you do to relax?

One thing I love about fall is getting to break out my boots and maybe even get a new pair (or two!). This fall I changed jobs and now have a job where I get to wear heels every day – which I love! With this getting a new job, I decided to get myself a congratulations self on getting a job present! Really, I had had my eye on these little Monroe’s (by Report) since one day back in July. However, at the time I was in transition, aka unemployed so I used a little self-control and resisted the urge and undeniable connection. Well, it has been a few months and I am now fully employeed, so I allowed myself to splurge – and I am so thankful! I love them, and maybe enjoy them a little more since I forced myself to wait a little bit.

B's Grey Monroe by Report

They are nice and high (4 1/2″ heel, with a 3/4″ platform – making so comfortable), but I am naturally nice and short – so it works out. Honestly, one of the best perks about being short is the freedom to wear really high heels (which in my opinion I think if you want to wear them, no matter how tall you are – go for it!) and know that I still will not be taller than most people.

Side View of Monroe by Report

I had to include the side view so you could see a close up of the details. I love the cuff that covers part of the heel, that is what first got my attention. The accent of the buckles also made me swoon. Yes, I know they are simply a pair of shoes to many, but they are so much more – a truly beautiful shoe is a piece of art that you get to wear, and even walk on without destroying the beauty – it is amazing!

What’s your favorite thing to break out when the seasons start to change from summer to fall?

Well, I have almost been in my new house for a month and I am loving it! One of my favorite parts would have to be my room, which is all mine – it has been years! As promised I wanted to give you a little photo tour…

The insdie of my closet door…I had to have a collage somewhere…

Close-up of the built in bookshelf…

Amazing built in bookshelf, tiny closet, and desk…

The blogging station…

My little getting ready station…

My wonderful bed…

There you go friends…a little glimpse into my new little haven that I have the privilege of calling home…

…socks with heels. Yes, please! I simply adore this trend and love seeing it all over the runways and now finally on the streets since it is getting cold enough. Just one of the many trends I am falling for this fall…

Works with open toed

Works with close toed, too

Look, even Dorthy fell for this trend...

So, what are you falling for this fall, friends?! Have a wonderful weekend!

1. A new mix to be played in my car…that covers a range of genres, but all keep me rocking out – even the slow songs…there is passion in singing along to each song. And the best part, when a new song comes on and someone else is in my car I always say, “Ah, this is one of my favorites!” And said person looks at me like, “Yup, so I have gathered…maybe it is because you made it?!”

2. The Minnesota Vikings. I know may seem a little out there compared to my other loves, but I have grown up loving sports (guess it gave me something to talk to my dad about?!). Tonight is going to be an epic game. Vikings at the New Orleans Saints. The rematch of rematches – really hoping it ends a little differently than it did back in January. Either way, I am excited to put on my jersey, with cute shoes of course, too.

B and LB...see I love sports

3. New York Fashion Week. September is an amazing month for fashion. The largest issue of Vogue for the year. A new beginning if you are wanting to revamp or change up your style. The switch to fall fashion – which is always so rich and beautiful. And who knows how to kick this fall season off right? New York. And this year they are having the Second Annual Fashion’s Night Out tomorrow. I am so sad that I do not get to be there. However, I love reading about it all over Vogue.com.

So, sorry that it’s been awhile – between the big move, lack of internet and then getting hit with the plague I have been somewhat out of commission. Some would argue I have not been enough out of commission and that is why I am still not totally back up to 100%, but at least I am out of bed, dressed (in wonderful fall clothes, wrapped up in a scarf, ah how I have missed my scarves), sipping my favorite soy latte from Starbucks (in Uptown of course), and connected to the world again. So, since it has been awhile I will fill you in what has kept me going without my lack of internet. I’m sure you guessed it, music is what keeps me going.

1. The new Ray LaMontagne and The Prairie Dogs – God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise album…so good, especially to keep you motivated to unpack, unpack, and then unpack a little bit more…

2. “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry (yes it is country…even I enjoy the occasional country song)…this simple tune caught my ear and inspired me to get my guitar back out learn how to play it (since a dear friend tuned it for me the other night, I had no excuse), which is where the iPhone came in handy to get me the chords so I could start teaching myself. It felt so good to be playing again, I forgot how soothing it is for me…

3. 89.3 The Current, pretty much the most amazing radio station ever – and the best part you can stream it online so you can listen where ever you are. This is where I find a lot of the music that I cannot get enough of…it is the inner hipster coming out in me (which some would argue is not so much just inner anymore and I am fully embarrassing my hipster-ness – I even took an online quiz confirming that I am indeed a Christian Hipster…not sure what that really means but I will role with it as I am now a resident in South Minneapolis)

4. A true staple in my music rotation is The Beatles. I have been known to say that I have been a fan long before it was cool or popular to be a fan (which is just a vast over statement I know since that would mean I was a fan before I was even in existence, I more mean I have been a fan since I was a little girl). One of my good friend’s little brother has lent me his copy of Rolling Stone The Beatles 100 Greatest Songs – so amazing and I completely agree with number one being “A Day in the Life” – such an amazing collaboration of Lennon and McCartney, they really worked together to create a musical masterpiece. The song is just epic.

The Cover of Rolling Stone

As I read more I am sure you will more about it…

Well, that is a little insight to what has been getting me through the last week or so. I am almost done nesting my room and will get pictures up…I am loving how it is coming together! The rest of the house is still getting settled, but soon enough we will have it and you will get to see how that turned out. Though, my favorite room is definitely my room. Talk to you soon, hopefully it will be a little sooner than last time…